Tesla has become a U.S. Big Three carmaker (by market value)

Stephen Edelstein Feb 28, 2017 2017 Tesla Model S Enlarge Photo Tesla Motors has spent more than 10 years beating the odds for startup automakers. Most new, independent makers barely survive long enough to produce a handful of vehicles, let alone sell more than 100,000 and garner praise from both customers and the media—as the electric-car startup has done. Now the Silicon Valley automaker can claim another distinction no other company in its position has likely ever won. DON'T MISS: Tesla Model 3 timing confirmed: first cars in July, 5K a week by next year In market value, Tesla Motors now rivals the Detroit Three U.S. automakers. That news was reported by the Bloomberg news service last week, which noted that the sudden increase in Tesla stock value has some Wall Street analysts concerned. After an $18 billion stock run, Tesla's market capitalization stood at $39.8 billi...